William Clement Scott Jr. Civil War Service

William Clement Scott Jr. was born in Vincennes Indiana February 10, 1846, son of William Clement and Maria Frances (Crawford) Scott. During the Civil War he served nearly three years in the Indiana Volunteers. He was only sixteen years old when he enlisted in Co. I, 8th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, August, 1862. He was in the following battles: Champions' Hill, Black River Bridge, Siege Of Vicksburg, Winchester, Cedar Creek, and Fisher's Gap.

He was discharged at the end of the war in Savannah, Ga.

The first thing he bought on his discharge was a handsome solid gold and black enamel watch for his mother. This watch still keeps perfect time and is now in the possession of his grandson John William Scott of Omaha, Nebraska.

William Clement had two uncles in the Civil War. One, Captain Jesse E. Scott was a quartermaster and in the war for the entire four years. The other, Philander Scott, died from illness while in the service.

William Clement Scott. Jr. died April 11, 1922 at Ashland, Nebraska and is buried in the cemetery there where his parents are buried. His letters were addressed to Richmond, Indiana, where his parents lived during the Civil War. The original letters were given to John William Scott, the grandson who has his name William.

The letters are misspelled and there are other mistakes. Later, of course, his letters were correctly written.

- Jesse Scott Millener ca. 1960

Letter

Patterson Mo Nov 10th 1862

Dear Mother

Uncle Jessie got hear safe and sound last Tusday. He seemed verry mutch pleased with his visite and I assure you your letter was verry acceptible as that is the third one I have received sine I left home. We left Pilot Knob last Sunday morning and travled about 10 miles halting at about 2 Oclock till Munday morning. I witnessed sumpthing that morning that I never saw before nor want to see again. They drumed three men out of the service for stealing. It seemes that on Sunday afternoon they fell out of their companies and went to a house not far from the road and broke open a trunk stealing a coat, sevral pictures and a discharge from the army. The owner followed them up and when we camped pointed them out to the Col. There wer courtmarshaled that night. The jury consisted of ten privates, one from each company. Nobody [knew] what their decision was till nex morning just as we wer going to start. The regiments (8 and 18th) wer formed in marching order. They wer ordered to left face and the drumes and fifes commenced plaing at the head of the colom and pretty soon they came marching past. The three men marching abrest with the hands on each others sholders, a guard on each side with muskets trailing and the bayoned a half foot ahead of the prisoners and thre guards behind alsoe tharling arms. The band playing the rogues march and the regiment hissing and hooting them. The tears came in the eies of one before they reached the bottom. After it was over the Col. told this men that the next man he heard stealing he would serve the same way. That day we made about 15 miles and just as we wer starting next morning Gen. Bento and staff caught up. Uncle Jess with them. I should have sed Uncle Jes. had not got back when we left the Knob. Tell father his tobacco was the most acceptible thing he could have sent me as I had been out for a couple of days. I am also very thankful for that scarff. I neded one very bad. Tell Fid to write and Lizzie to. I have written to both and have not heard a word from eather yet. Is Uncle Newt getting well. Uncle Jes. went back to the Knob day before yesterday to see about some waggons. We expect to march tomorrow or nex day. I think we go south west. The general impression is that we will go rite through the same country they did last winter and get back to Helena in the spring. I have not time to say more as I am buisey today. Write soon and tell the rest to do the same.

Yours Very Affectionately,
William C. Scott

OFFICE ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER
New Orleans, La, July 24, 1863

Clem

I do not know whether I owe you a letter or not. I guess it makes no difference.

I have no news to write, but will drop you a line letting you know that we are quite well.

I made an effort a few weeks ago to got Will discharged and thought I had made it sure but there was one signature that I could not secure. His Regt. has part of it left for the East, and I am not certain but that it has all gone, the rest were awaiting transportation. The rest of the enlisted men that I had with me belonging to Regts. being sent around there, have all been ordered to join their Regts. I should not be surprised at any time to get an order sending him back. If so he will have to go I expect. I find he will have to serve out his three years. If he goes I will try and have him put on detached duty somewhere.

Some eight hundred of our officers & men who were taken prisoners up Red River have been exchanged and around here this morning you ought to see them. The hardest looking set of men you ever saw, dressed mostly in secesh clothes and ragged at that. They say they were treated about as well as the Rebs. were able to treat them. About all they got to eat was a pound of meal and a pound of Texas beef per day.

I am getting along tolerably well so far and hope I am giving fair satisfaction. At any rate, I know that they are increasing my business every few days. I do not expect to be able to save as much money here as in the field, as it costs so enormous to live in this city. My salary just about keeps me and that is all that I see any prospect of. But if I can go home with my honor and manhood I will heartily thank God, for that is more than many an officer will do.

I wish you would send me a Richmond paper once in a while. Give my regards to Maria & family and write soon.

J. E. Scott
Capt. A.Q.M.

Since writing the above I learned that Will would probably be ordered to join his Regt. sooner or later and as he preferred going with it then to wait & go by himself I thought it best to let him go. Col. Shurk and Doctor Bigalow both promised Will that they would use every means to have him discharged as soon as they get around and I think they can and will effect it then. You do not know how much I had learned to love that boy. Certainly as much as if he had been my own. He is one of the most manly, well behaved boys I ever knew. I really felt proud of him. He promised me he would conduct himself still the same.

Yours,
J. E. S.

(Jesse E. Scott was a brother of William Clement Scott and uncle of William Clement Scott, Jr.)

Office A.A.Q.M. 1st Brig. 1st Div. 13th A.C.
Breashear City, La., Sept. 13/63

Dear Mother

I received your kinde letters a few days age, one by mail and one by Col. Prey. I also received Fathers and Franks letters both of which I will answer soon. We left Carrolton on the 5th inst. and crossed the river over to Algiers opposite New Orleans. We then took the cars and came out as far as Bayou Reouff about 75 miles from Algiers and remained there about one week then we packed up and came to this place.

We had a very pleasant time at New Orleans. The Post Hudson Stormers were nowhere after the 13th Army Corps came down the river. By and by the eastern and western troops dont work together well the eastern troops put on most to mutch stile. You ought to see one of their New Yourk Zooave regts two grate large red flannel bags for breeches little blue jackets red scull caps with grate large red tassels hanging down their backs.

I was in New Orleans several times while the troops were at Carrollton and think it is a very pretty place the streets are all very clean and neete. I saw two bronze monuments one of Clay and one of Jackson. I also saw the custom house or what there is of it, it is not finished yet. I understand it has been fifteen years building it will be a very fine building when it is finished. There was some very fine ships in port while we were there, English, French and American men of war. I hardly think I would like to live there, there are so many French, Mexicans and other Foreigners there that it hardly seems like an American place at all. The country all around is flat and marshy. But coming down the Mississippi after we left Vicksburg there are some of the most butiful plantations I ever saw.

We are now in about as nasty a hole as we ever was the water in the bay is too salty to use and so we had to dig wells the water we get from them is slightly salty and very thick and muddy.

I expect we will move over into Texas before long we would have went before now but an expidition that was sent around to sabine pass got a flaxing so they had to make a new programe and I guess we will move by land this time. I will be glad to get into the country again for then perhaps we can get something to eat and that is what we do not get here. Our division has not drawn any good meat since we came down river it is all or very near all so rotten that the boys had to bury it. Very near every night the boys set up the most dismal howling for sow belly that I over heard the Col. got angry at them the other night and wanted to whip any man that hallooed that again that only made them worse and they only made the more noise for it.

Uncle Jess has gone up river he was ordered up to get forage for the Corps. I do not expect he will be back before next month. Lt. Branson of the 8th Ind. is acting while he is gone and I am staying with him.

You will please excuse this miserable letter this time and I will promise to do better next time. I have been interrupted at least half a dozzen times since I commenced writing this for we are very busy today and nobody pretends to do any writing at night the mosquitoes are so bad.

Tell Father and Jessie I will answer their letters as soon as I receive them. Give my love to all the folks and so goodby for this time. Will.

Office of A.A.Q.M. 13th A.C.
Ranwick City, La.
Nov. 25th/63

Dear Father:

Having a few leisure moments this, to me, rather dull evening I will devote them to you. We are still at Renwick, all the rest of the Div., (the 1st Div) have went around to Brownsville on the Rio Grande, the other divisions of the Corps except the second are at New Iberia about 60 miles from this place. I expect we will get off some time this week. I hope we will, at least, for this is a very dry place. There is only one Regt. of Infantry on this side of the bay. The troops all (with the exception of the 8th and 18th Indiana Regts. which embarked on a small steamer at this place) went to Algiers to embark as large steamers cannot get into this place on account of a sand bar at the mouth of the bay. There is some talk of the supply train being shiped in schooners which can get over the bar. There would be less danger aboard of steamers but I would rather embark on schooners at this place then to load aboard steamboats here to cross the bay and then on the cars for Algiers (opposite Orleans) We have a pretty large train now. 160 six mule teams and we get 40 more tomorrow so that will make 200 teams. 160 we had to fit up, the wagons & harness were all in pieces and the mules never had bridles on them before so you may imagine what a nice job it was. The Yonker Q.M.'s across at Brashier have not the least bit of accomodation about them and when grain or other stores come for us it takes a week to get across, our mules went two days without a mouthful or forage of any kind on account of them. They (the Q.M's not the mules) are speculating very heavy in cotton & sugar they have shiped half a dozen boat loads from here and farther up the Bayou Torsh for city purchasers. I wish we mere out of this dept. altogether for I do not like the way they manage things. They have got the army scattered all over the state, one Brig here and another here & so that the Rebs. with a little carefull management could gobble the whole army, one Brig. at a time. They did get one Brigade of Gen. Bumbridge's Div. at Vermihoville while we were at New Iberia and now they have sent the first Div. away round to Texas by itself with no transportation or any thing else. I should not be surprised in the least if the next thing we heard from them would be that they have been captured too. But enough of Yank Generalship. I don't like to talk about it but I must say that I think if the eastern men had thought more about the interest of the country & less about their own this thing would have been settled long ago.

How does business prosper about Richmond during these war times. Is the furniture business still growing. Has Al Fulghum got out of this notion of going for a soldier. I know he used to talk of enlisting but his father would not consent. I would like very mutch to come home for a while to see you all, but as my time will be out in about nine months I guess I will wait and than I will enjoy it all the better. Ma informs me in her last that my worthy Bro. Frank has donned his first long tailed coat. I suppose he still speculates in watermelons, peaches &C never the less. Hattie & Jessie I suppose will soon begin to think of long dresses & Beaux they did the latter when I was home but then they were experiencing what Fred Hall terms puppy love. I shall not wonder at all if when I get home I should find them grown into young ladies. In fact nothing will surprise me since I received a written letter from Master Hugh. Tell that important function (for me) to be a good boy and learn fast and I will get him a nice present when I get home. Does Annie still reign supreme over the junior Scott's as she used to or has George superceeded her he is a smart boy if he has. But Father I suppose you are tired of reading this noncense and as it is growing quite late I will draw my poor letter to a close. Give my love to Ma and all the friends and please answer soon and give me all the news.

from Will

P.S. Fred Hall and Uncle Jessie send their regards to all. Please direct in care of Lieut. J.E.Scott A.A.Q.M. in charge of transportation 13 army Corps via Orleans.

Will

Office of A.A.Q.M. 13th Army Corps
Camp near Franklin La.
Mar. 9th/64

Dear Mother

Hear we are in the country once more and for my part I arent a bit sorry for I was getting real tired of New Orleans. We left the latter place on the 28th of Feb and arrived at Brashear City on Sunday the 7th and crossed barwick bay the same night. Monday morning we left Barwick City and passed through Franklin yesterday and arrived at this place (three miles this side of Franklin) I have no idea that we will lay here very long. They are rushing troops out here as fast as they can. There is now about 20 thousand infantry & five thousand cavalry here and at Barwick and there is ten thousand and more cavalry coming from New Orleans. The general supposition is that they are going through to Red River. One thing is evident & that is that the movement is to be a rapid one. I dont think Jessie will go any farther then New Iberia if he can get himself appointed to that post. For my part I would rather go through with the expedition. I only wish General McClennand was in command. Gen. Banks is affraid of him and has put him around in Texas where he has not mutch chance to do anything as there is hardly any troops there. But if Banks is not carefull he (McClennand) will take Texas with what few troops he has get.

I recd Franks letter at Barwick City was glad to hear from him by the by Frank is the only one that I can depend on for letters. I get one from him nearly every week tell him to keep it up and some of you follow please his example. Tell him I will write him a long letter the first chance I get. Tell Father that he need not be afraid of my reinlisting for if I did I could not got the bounty as I have not been in the service two years. If I only had my discriptive while we were in New Orleans I would nave been discharged by this time but it was at the company. I think I can get a discharge on my ears (they are ?? butifully this morning) when my regiment comes up. I think I have been transfered to the 69th Ind. as I heard that all of the 8th who did not reinlist had been transferred to that regt.

But I must stop here as I want to send this to town this morning and one of the clerks is waiting for it. I will write more next time and tell you about the country.

My love to all the friends & family. Uncle Jess & the rest of us are all well. When you write direct with Lt. J.E. Scott. A.A.Q.M. Care of Col. Chandler Q.M. Franklin La.

Will C. Scott

Office of Act. Asst. Q.M.
Alexandria, La. April 1st/64

Dear Mother

As you don't intend to answer my last letter I will try and write you another & then wait patiently for another month. The last time I recd. a letter from you was while we were lying at New Orleans. The only letter I have recd. from home since leaving the latter place, has been from Frank & I answered that while at Franklin since then Richmond may have sunk underground for all that I know.

We arrived at this place on the 25th of March. Left Franklin on the 16th of March, just 16 days on the road & if the 13th Army Corps had been in the front we would have been there two days sooner. Yanks can't march at all. We had only one or two bad days. Our train was in the rear of everything & those two rainy days we had a pretty rough time road badly cut up by the trains in front of us. The country we came through is very beautiful. When we left New Orleans Jesse had 110 (one hundred & ten teams) all six mules everything in first rate condition while all the other trains were in bad condition so as soon as we left Franklin we had to commence lending teams & mules. our teams were scattered all over the command one here two there & &. On the twenty third about 9 oclock in the morning we were ordered to halt in the road & take off two mules from every six mule team in the train & take them back to a pontoon train about 4 miles in the rear where they were stuck in the mud. Jess & I went back with them & of all the outfits I ever saw that was the worst mules & the drivers some of them couldn't even hitch up a team right & to "cap the climax" they had a New York Zouave regiment along as guards & they were the laziest hardest & meanest set of men I ever saw. They were the regular roughs & ronders of New York. They all had their knapsacks in the boats and when a team got stuck the Officer would have to draw his sword on them before they would touch it, and when we got there with the mules they let them all run past them & our men had to drive them up again. We didnt get them all hitched up until about 4 oclock & then we started back to our own train. We hadnt gone more than a mile when we met an officer & a private coming towards us as fast as they could run. They said that one of their party had been shot & another taken prisoner and all of their horses captured about a mile ahead while they were resting. As we had no arms with us we concluded to stay with the pontoon that night. So there we were, no blankets & nothing to eat and we didnt get a mouthfull.

Next morning we were going to start ahead again but we heard of some of our men being shot ahead and so we didnt like to risk it if they had been regular confederate soldiers instead of bushwackers we would have run the risk of being captured for the sake of getting something to eat. But none of us fancied being hid around the swamps with those bloody bushwackers. We staid with the pontoon untill about 4 oclock in the afternoon when we concluded to go ahead as the pontoon train was loosing instead of gaining on our train. We got through safe which was a wonder as several had been gobbled the same day --- I expect Jesse will lay here a week or two as A.A.Q.M. in charge of land & transportation. Our teams are now busy hauling in sugar & cotton from the country the army has gone for Shreevesport. The steamer "La Crosse" was burned by the rebels below this place a few nights ago. We lost one on the falls above.

Ma, see if you cant send me two brown linen shirts by mail. I think you can they ask SIX dollars for ones here, made of the same stuff that linen coats are. My love to all. Please write soon.

P.S. Excuse this miserable writing great hurry. Will

Direct With J.E. Scott Lt. AAQM Care of Capt Armstrong AQM
New Orleans

Office Assistant Quartermaster
New Orleans, La. June 17th, 1864

Dear Mother:

I wrote one letter to Frank today but for fear that he should not get it I will try and write you another. I received your last about a week ago and should have answered sooner but I have not had a fitting opportunity of doing so.

We are all well at present except Fred. He has been quite sick with the feaver but is nearly well now, enough so to attend to business. Your oldest hope (if you havent got entirely out of patience of hopeing and given him up) still holds out against pillboxes quinin & Co. but I am a little afraid of the feaver for I am naturaly of a billious temperment and some think this is going to be rather a sickly season here, but If I take good care of myself and done take any medicine I guess I will come through all right, hope so anyhow.

Jesse is perfectly happy with his commission and as you will see by Franks letter has a good position. He still holds out against the fair ones and I believe he will always be what you ladies term a "horrid old , batchelor" And alass Im sore afraid that that will be my fate for I realy havent been in love for nearly a month. I had my heart broken for the 6th time when I left Alexandria (the last one lives there) You know I had that rather sensitive part of my body (my heart) was sadly shattered by Misses Concle and Medikind and now there is scarcely anything left of it and Im going to keep that untill I arrive at the age of discrission so that I wont throw it away so lighty - By the way what has become of my old flame I mean Miss W- dose she florish as she used to or do you keep informed of the young ladies of our place. But as Mrs. Clemence would say "Enough of foolishness on this day". Ma, have you seen Dicken's new story that every body is talking about. I have been trying to get a Harpers for June, which contains the first of it, but cannot. But I think I will quit novels all together and try and interest myself in grammer & algebra. I do not read one half the novels I used to, and none at all of the "Yellow back" stile. Got perfectly disgusted with them. I declair I am perfectly ashamed of myself that Frank should be so far ahead of me in his studies but I shall catch up yet, and I really dont believe I ever would have done that if I had staid at home amongst a grate many other things which I have learned since leaving home I have also learned the necessity of having an education in order to get through the world and I have already regretted that I did not ocupy my time better while I was at school. I believe I am as extravagant as ever though or rather have as extravagent ideas. You know a fellow cant afford to be verry extravagant on thirteen dollars a month. I havent tasted ice cream this summer and besides I dont smoke mutch and when I do I generaly content myself with a "destestable old pipe." But how I am rattling on with my noncence here I have nearly filled three pages--- If you have the shirts you were speaking about and you dont think that it will cost more than they are worth to send them to me you can do so. I should like varry mutch to have your Photo and Franks. If you have them, I should like to have likinesses of the family (to numerous to mention separatley) I am afraid Frank is going to be larger than I after all for I am only five feet seven inches high and but verry little heavier than when I left home. I only weigh 130 lbs.

Is fathers business prospects any better than they were when I left. I do wish that he would get along well...

Give my love to all and kiss the children for me and please write soon.

Good bye Will

Care Of J.E. Scott
Capt AAQM
New Orleans

Office Assistant Quartermaster
New Orleans La. July 24, 1864

Dear Mother

I received your kind favor & the shirts all right day before yesterday the shirts the ones you made, particularly, are just exactly the things I wanted and except that they are a little too large fit me first-rate. I would rather have them as they are then with pleated bosoms for they do not get mussed so easily & then they look better when I have no vest or suspenders on & then I have some white shirts to ware on Sundays and when I go out. I had to pay $7 a pair for them - they charge a soldier about three prices for every thing here. I had to pay fifteen $ for a jacket & 10 for pants. Got pretty nice ones though but if I had enough money I would go right off a get me a dress coat for the jacket makes me look for all the World like a little boy. Have you got the pictures yet. I first had him take one standing but it made me appear about twelve years old, and I think I must look very young for while I was going along Canal St. the other day I heard one lady say to another "what a pretty little boy for a soldier" if my moustache dont hurry up I will come Fred Stricklands game over it & get me a false pair.

There is nothing going here except that most of the troops are leaving for the east half of my regt have already gone and the rest leave per next steamer so I expect I will get to take a trip on the briny deep or a tour in Virginia before I get home for I expect that after the regt. get there I will to ordered to report to my company. But Uncle Jess will do every thing he can to keep me & if I have to go the first Lt. & Capt. both say they will make it as easy as they can for me and the doctor of the regt. is a good friend of mine so is the surgeon of the 33 Ill. & both promise to do all they can to get me out of the service for I hardly expect I could stand a hard campaign in the company for I am not nearly so strong as I used to be. But, "I can try" and I arent a bit afraid to & besides I wouldn't mind spending a month or two in Virginia.

You say Miss Concle is married, well long life & prosperity too her & the extremely lucky individual who won her. Lord knows I bear him no envy. Glad to hear that Miss Medikin still flourishes expect to have a little flirtation with her when I get back.

I want you to tell Frank that his letter is played out it is the same old thing that he has been sending me for the last year & a half. I'll bet that if you will search his room you will find a lot of steriotyped letters, each covering about 2 & 1/2 pages of small note paper and at the end of every one the school-bell rings so he must go with the wagon & & & he is going to write me a long one next time. Now I want you to set him to work with pen, ink & a large sheet of paper & make him write me a long letter before he quits. Give my love to all and please write soon.

Will.

24th/64

Since writing yesterday I have come to the conclusion that I might just as well go around to the Army of the Potomac with my Regt. as to wait here a week or two & be ordered to join it there. Uncle Jess thinks it best plan for I know that I will be ordered to my Regt. soon. Think I will get discharged soon after getting there. We go on a safe ship a regular New York packet has been chartered to take us.

Uncle Jess will send a package of my things home for me some shirts &C. I must quit now as I have a grate deal to do.

Goodby for present. Will.

P.S. Will write as soon as I arrive.

N.B. When you get bundle open & have some of the shirts washed.

Camp near Charleston, Va.
Aug 1st, 1864.

Dear Mother:

I recd. your kinde letter this morning and was very mutch pleased to hear from you. I hope you will write often for I can get your letters more regularly now than I did while at New Orleans. I shall write once a week when practicable.

We have been moving around a grate deal in the last ten days when-ever the Rebs. would fell back we would push forward but as soon as they would turn on us we fall back to our fortifications near Harpers ferry. l do not think that Sheridan is afraid to fight Early for we have a verry large force, but I think Gen. Sheridan's policy has been to keep Early away from Richmond as long as possible and at the same time keepe him in the vallie where he can do no harm. They have gone at last though our Cavilry had a severe skirmish with their rear guard day before yesterday not far from here and most of the officers seem to think that Lee has ordered Early back to Richmond weather they really have retreated or are mearly manoevering to flank us I do not know. I think the former most likely.

As you suppose I do have rougher times in the Company than while with Jesse but I stand it as well as anybody in fact I do not minde the rough fare and hard marching nearly so mutch as I do the rough company. Soldiers in the field & especially veterans are for all the world like what I would supppose a troop of real genuine wilde Indians who had never saw a white man, would do, for instance if one man hollows it is not more than five minutes until the whole camp is alive with the most unearthly yells imaginable. Every-thing they do is done in a boisterous manner, and in my Regt. there is no disciplin at all the men do just as they please & the officers hardly to prevent them. I have pretty good officers in my company the Captains name is Thompson he has a red head & is very quick tempered & whenever he gets angry his nose turns blue. Rob. Torrence the 1st Lieut. is what the world calls a good fellow (the world is decidedly wright in this instance) He is also rather good looking and some what inclined to be lazy but that is not mutch of a fault here for all officers are lazy. The 2d Lieut. is brisk sharp officer & is at present Act. Adjutant of the Regt. The privates and non-commisioned officers are tolerable good fellows but all country boys. I mess with the Captain there are six of us 3 officers and three privates one of whom a grate old man about 22 years old cooks for us and is excused from other duty. We had to leave him back at Harper's Ferrie as he was unwell and we are all cooks now.

I'm about the poorest there is but am learning, can make pretty good coffee now the first time I tried it I did not put in half enough coffee and what I did put in the pot with the cold water and then let it boil and it did not resemble coffee in the least after it was done. We have no cooking utensils with us except the coffee pot & we have to carry that in our hands as there are no teams along except one to Brigade head quarters every man is his own wagon we have to carry 4 & 5 days rations & 60 rounds of ammunition which added to our guns and knapsack make a pretty good load for a man to carry over this rough county. We have a verry good guns new ones that were drawn at New Orleans but as they are polished it takes a grate deal of caer to keepe them from rusting.

You neede not have the least concern about my health for I never get sick dont believe I could make myself so by eating as long as they dont allow us larger rations then at present. I live almost entirely on coffee & hard bread for I cannot bear the fat pork they issue to us and we dont get verry mutch fresh meat.

I am sorry the children are unwell but trust they will soon be all well again. Give my respect to Miss Paxon when you see her again. I had an introduction to her but am not verry well acquainted with her. Give my love to all the family & friends. Tell Father to write I want to hear from him verry mutch please write soon & direct the same as before except to the 4th Brig. 2d Div.19th A.C. Midli Dept.

Will

excuse poor writing as I have no desk and write on a board layed on my knee. Will.

Savannah, Ga. Feb. 26th, 1865

Dear Mother

I recd your kinde letter from Mr. Posey a day or two since and now take the first opportunity to answer it. Yours is the only letter I have recd from home since we arrived at this place. Why dose not Frank write oftner it seems like an age since I heard from him and as for sisters I might as well have none for they do not seem to care or think of me. It makes me feel bad sometimes to see the other boys getting letters every mail while poor me must be unusually lucky If I got more than one in a month. I was on the point of declaring war with the whole family when Posey came with your letter.

There is no news here and nothing to write about that would interest you. Every thing is going on smothly. We moved our camp day before yesterday are not fixed up quite as comfortably as we were. We are now clear out on the edge of the city close to the fortifications, but we still do duty in town. I with 5 other privates and a corporal have a permanent detail to guard wood belonging to the city relief commission each of us stand four hours out of twenty four - that is two hours in the day and two at night, as there has been no wood there for the last four days we have nothing at all to do but there will be more wood there tomorrow.

The weather has been verry fine since we have been here until the last day or two it has been rather cloudy & windy and to day it is raining. I went to the city Park yesterday afternoon and heard some tolerably good music by a brass band. There is music there three or four times a week - a good many ladles turn out. I wish I was acquainted with some or the families here for we have the dullest time imaginable If I had a pair of shoulder straps it would be very easy to get acquainted but a private stands but verry little chance. However when I get my pay I am going to try - at preasant our whole Brigade is straped. I do not think there is ten dollars in our Regt. I have not had ten cents since I left Baltimore. My mess is also out of rations we havent had any thing to eat to day but some very hard bread and some pickles.

Ma, the rain is beginning to run through the tent and on my paper so for the preasant I must close. Good by.

Will

direct to 1st Brig. instead of fourth

Will

Maria Scott's Statement re: W.C. Scott Jr's Pension Application

During his Civil War service, Will caught a cold which caused a loss of hearing. In 1917, his mother made the following statement regarding his health. At the time she was living with her daughter, Anne Scott Jackson.

(1) Civil War Div.
Section N
Inv. Ctf. Nos. 198, 202
William Scott
I, 8 Ind. Inf.

STATE OF MARYLAND
COUNTY OF BALTIMORE ss.

Maria F. Scott, being duly sworn, makes the following statement under oath:

My name is Maria F. Scott. I was born January 4, 1826, at Oxford, Ohio. On January 10, 1845, I married William C. Scott, and, as the fruits of such marriage there were born nine children, the eldest of whom was William Scott, who was born at Vincennes, Indiana, February 10, 1846. In 1848 my husband and I removed to Richmond, Indiana, and lived there continuously, as did also my son, William Scott, until the year 1870 when we removed to Ashland, Nebraska. We resided there continuously until my husband's death in May 1895, and during all this period my son, William Scott, also resided in Ashland, Nebraska, where he still resides, and was in the grocery business with his father under the firm name of Scott and Company. Since my husband's death during the Winters I have lived in the South at Atlanta, Georgia, with my daughter, Mrs. Julius R. Watts, and in the Summers in the North with my daughter, Mrs. Richard A. Jackson, who now resides at Ballydugan, Stevenson, Baltimore County, Maryland. It was in 1874 that my son William went into the grocery business with his father in Ashland, Nebraska, under the firm name of Scott and Company. He has since continuously resided there, and carried on the business of this firm, and is now engaged in such business. Since my husband's death I have frequently visited my son William at his home in Ashland, Nebraska, and have there spent a part of every year with him for the past five years. When my son, William Scott, was sixteen years old, in 1862, he enlisted in the Union Army, and served for two years, according to my recollection, under his uncle, Jesse Scott, a Quartermaster, and afterwards was transferred into the fighting line. I did not know it at the time, but I have since been informed that my son William, when he enlisted, falsely represented his age to be eighteen, when in fact, he was but sixteen years old, in order to be accepted in the service as he had once before tried to enlist and was rejected because he correctly gave his age as being sixteen. While I was living in Ashland, Nebraska, with my husband, my son William Scott, to my personal knowledge, applied to the United States Government for a pension and back pay because of deafness brought on by his service in the Union Army, and received the same. His hearing was seriously impaired when he returned home after the War, and this infirmity has increased from year to year since that time. He is now seventy-one years old, and will not be seventy-two years old until his next birthday, February 10, 1918. This is his true and correct age, and to my personal knowledge, he is the same William Scott who is now receiving at Ashland, Nebraska, a pension from the United States Government. I have always enjoyed excellent health, and I am now in good health and in full possession of all my bodily and mental faculties. My son-in-law, Richard A. Jackson, in whose home at Stevenson, Maryland, I am now visiting, was for some years and until October 25, 1916, general counsel and vice-president of the Great Northern Railway Co., and I have requested him to attach his affidavit certifying to my physical and mental condition and competency. Covering the whole period during which my nine children were born I kept the family Bible, and in it, at the times of the births of each of my children I entered the true date thereof. The first entry of this kind made therein was that of the birth of my son William under date February 10, 1846, and so it has remained unaltered until the present day. Some years ago, at the request of my daughter, Mrs. Richard A. Jackson, then living at St. Paul, Minnesota, I sent her this family Bible as she had expressed a wish to keep it. Several years afterwards my said daughter and her husband removed to Stevenson, Maryland, where they now reside, and I am informed by her that this Bible was, as she supposed, packed with her other household belongings, transported to Stevenson, Maryland, and to her residence there, Ballydugan. It has been mislaid or lost, and altho both she and I have diligently searched for it thruout her home, and in every place where it would appear likely to be, we have been unable to find it. So far as I know, there is no public or church record of the birth of William Scott, or of any of my children. While I do not know the number of the regiment in which my son William enlisted in 1862, I know that he was then living in Richmond, Indiana, and that he enlisted in an Indiana Infantry Regiment.

In Richard Jackson's affidavit, he states that at age 92, Maria is a "woman of remarkable vitality and physical and mental vigor".